National tricone resonator guitar 1928 in Scottish music

**kmmando** · Apr-27-2010, 8:46am

Maybe of interest?

Personally, I find it goes really well with the reed sound of the accordion somehow. Metal magic going on there!

slainte

Kevin Macleod

**kmmando** · Jun-15-2010, 6:31am

The cd " Braes of Badentarbat" is now available, loads of resonator tenor guitar and some mandolin/bouzouki duets with myself and Luke Plumb, on Sobell and Gilchrist F5 mandolins, and Peter Daffy bouzouki - check him out, his work is stunning. http://daffyguitars.com/

http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/kevi...tarbet-cd.html

http://www.footstompin.com/artists/a..._kevin_macleod

thanks
Kevin Macleod

**Jason Kessler** · Jun-20-2010, 5:07pm

I can't think of too many OTHER instruments that can overpower a resonator guitar volume-wise!

**JeffD** · Jun-21-2010, 10:38am

Great great stuff.

**kmmando** · Jun-22-2010, 4:48am

Cheers Jeff, we're just having a load of fun playing great tunes with a few drams to hand!

best wishes and thanks for the kind remark
kevin

**Malcolm G.** · Jun-22-2010, 5:59am

Kevin,

Great stuff!

How rare is a tenor National tricone?

I don't believe I've ever seen one.

**kmmando** · Jun-24-2010, 5:34am

Thanks, Malcolm, not qute sure how many were made, but they were only made for 2-3 years in the late 1920's, if I remember from Bob Brozman's seminal book on Nationals, so maybe a couple of hundred? Mine is dated to 1928. Some were longer scale plectrum ones, one or two were single cone in the pear shape, and some rare ones are engraved beautifully, style 2's. They are superbly made, and the nickel sliver finish is amazing, considering it is all metal. They wer expensive at the time, compared with wooden tenors. Sonically the tricone is more "refined" than the single cone guitar shaped tenor, which is more earthy, bassy and honky, whereas the tricone is more shimmery, trebly and complex - quite hard to verbalise! They are all loud, that's a given!
If you google them over time there are a few surfacing for sale, but not many. I think MC stalwart Dan Beimborn has a pal who has one coming up for sale as it happens. I love them to bits, and if nothing else, you always get great conversations in sessions because of it!
Slainte from Scotland!
Kevin Macleod